By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The military has achieved another major milestone in its counter-terrorism operations as troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested six suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and intercepted a large consignment of materials believed to be heading to terrorist groups during an intelligence-led operation in Borno State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the operation was carried out by troops of Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, along a suspected terrorist supply route in the North-East. Acting on credible intelligence, the troops mounted a covert stop-and-search operation that led to the arrest of the six suspects, who were travelling in five vehicles.
Military authorities said the operation disrupted a suspected logistics network used to sustain terrorist activities in the region.
Items recovered from the suspects included 202 cartons of herbicides, a Starlink wireless internet communication system, six bags of NPK fertiliser, one jerrycan containing suspected acid, 10 bags of rice, 50 hoes and 20 packs of knapsack sprayer pumps.
According to the military, preliminary findings suggest the items have potential dual-use applications that could support terrorist logistics, mobility, communications and general sustainment.
It added that the recovered NPK fertiliser and suspected acid would undergo technical and forensic examination to determine whether they were intended for the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The military described the seizure as a significant setback for suspected terrorist logistics networks, noting that it would further weaken the ability of terrorist groups to sustain their operations.
The six suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the appropriate Military Intelligence Regiment for further investigation.
According to the military, investigators are expected to determine the intended recipients of the materials, uncover the wider logistics network and identify other collaborators and sponsors linked to the operation.
The statement also said preliminary debriefings of rescued hostages and surrendered families of former terrorists indicated that sustained attacks on terrorist supply chains had significantly reduced the operational capacity of insurgent groups.
According to the debriefings, persistent shortages of food, medical supplies, communication equipment and other essential materials have forced many terrorists to abandon their hostages, families and enclaves while fleeing sustained military pressure.
Reaffirming its commitment to dismantling terrorist support structures across the North-East, Operation HADIN KAI said it would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations targeting terrorists, their financiers, logistics suppliers, informants and collaborators to deny them the resources, freedom of movement and operational capability needed to sustain acts of terrorism.
The military added that degrading terrorist logistics remained a key operational objective, saying the strategy had contributed to increasing surrenders by terrorists, the abandonment of their enclaves and the release of captives previously held in their camps.
It appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information on suspicious persons, movements and activities within their communities, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ongoing counter-terrorism operations and efforts to restore lasting peace and security in the North-East.
